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Former jail employee killed by deputy after welfare call to 911

Both the GBI and Spalding County Sheriff's Office confirmed the shooting late Wednesday evening.  According to the sheriff's office, the shooting happened on Collier Drive.

GRIFFIN, Ga. -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting in Spalding County that took place late Wednesday evening around 9:00 p.m. on Collier Drive.

Sheriff Darrell Dix said two deputies were dispatched to a home for reports of a man who had a gun. That man was 48-year-old Guy Lynn Scott, Jr. Police initially said he threatened suicide but later said the 911 call was for a wellfare check.

"While the deputies were approaching the backside of the house, a gentlemen stepped out with a handgun and pointed a handgun at the deputy. One of the deputies fired his weapon and struck the subject twice," Dix said.

He said there wasn't enough time and distance to react. "The distance between the officer and the suspect was very close. There was really not a lot of time for the officer to react."

Scott was pronounced dead on the scene.

There were several other people inside the home at the time of the incident. "They were not harmed, they are find. They are with relatives right now," Dix said.

The GBI is handling the investigation. This is often standard practice for a law enforcement agency after a shooting involving one of their own.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE VICTIM

According to police, Scott worked at the county jail between 1991 and 200 as a detention officer. He also once worked at the correctional institute and sheriff's office.

He's a 48-year-old white man.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OFFICER

Authorities have not released the name of the deputy, yet. 11Alive has learned that he began working at the Sheriff's office in 2014 and went to the police academy in 2016 and became a road officer this year in March.

He is now on paid administrative leave and Sheriff Dix said he's shaken up. Sheriff's office is in the process of getting the officer counseling.

We do know that the officer has gone through crisis intervention. Dix said, ""he is well-versed in de-escalation." But said, "The instance happened so fast that there was not even a chance to say anything."

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